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VCU Survey: Virginians' Attitudes Toward Emergency Preparedness

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) contracted with the VCU Center for Public Policy to conduct a telephone survey with a random sample of adult Virginians. The survey questions were included in the Commonwealth Poll conducted June 17 through July 8, 2005. The final sample consisted of 801 respondents.

The questions asked on behalf of VDEM dealt with: respondents’ ratings of their knowledge about various types of emergencies; the preparations they had made for emergencies; what they would do in specific emergency situations; the information sources they used to find out about emergency preparedness; and their needs and preferences for emergency training programs. View the entire survey [273kb PDF].

Overview of Findings

Respondent Profile

As shown in the tables that accompany this report, the respondents represented a broad cross-section of Virginians, based on information gathered about geographic region, age, sex, race, education, and income.

Knowledge about Preparing for Various Types of Emergencies

Respondents were asked to rate their personal knowledge about preparing for four different types of emergencies on a scale of on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being “I know almost nothing at all,” and 5 being “I know almost everything I need to know.”

Respondents rated their knowledge level the highest for weather-related emergencies, such as hurricanes or blizzards. Almost three-fourths (72 percent) of the respondents rated their knowledge level with a 4 or 5, indicating a high level of knowledge. The average knowledge score was 3.95 out of a maximum score of 5.00. The differences between the average knowledge score for weather-related emergencies and the average knowledge scores for each of the three other categories of emergencies were all statistically significant at a 99 percent level of confidence.
Regarding preparing for a flash flood, almost half (48 percent) of the respondents rated their knowledge level with a 4 or 5. The average knowledge score was 3.35 out of a maximum score of 5.00.
Regarding preparing for a toxic chemical spill, only 21 percent of the respondents rated their knowledge level with a 4 or 5. The average knowledge score was 2.36 out of a maximum score of 5.00.
Regarding preparing for a terrorist attack, 32 percent of the respondents rated their knowledge level with a 4 or 5. The average knowledge score was 2.38 out of a maximum score of 5.00.

Preparations Made for Emergencies

Respondents provided information about the specific preparations they had made for emergencies:

A majority of respondents (55 percent) said they had a disaster plan for their family or household to follow in the event of an emergency.
About 8 in 10 (79 percent) of respondents said they had a key contact outside the home whom the members of their family or household knew to contact in the event of an emergency.
About half (52 percent) of the respondents said they had a predetermined location outside of their immediate area where the members of their family or household could meet in the event of an emergency.
Of the respondents who reported they had pets, infants, seniors, or people with disabilities in their household, 70 percent indicated that they had supplies ready at home for them.

Emergency Supplies on Hand

Virtually all respondents indicated that they had the following emergency supplies on hand: extra batteries (93 percent), canned food (97 percent), a manual can opener (97 percent), and a flashlight (99 percent).
Most respondents said they had the following supplies on hand: bottled water (83 percent), a battery-powered radio (83 percent), and a first aid kit (87 percent).
About 6 in 10 respondents reported they had an extra supply of prescription and non-prescription medication (58 percent) or extra cash/traveler’s checks (61 percent).
Respondents who said they had bottled water on hand were asked how long they thought it would last, given that each household member requires three gallons a day for drinking, bathing and other purposes. About 6 in 10 (62 percent) said that their water would last three days or less; 44 percent said their water would last two days or less, and 22 percent said their water would last one day or less. Only 10 percent of the respondents said their water would last more than one week.
A majority of respondents (60 percent) said that they did not have their emergency supplies gathered together in one location in the home.

Actions Taken in Emergency Situations

Respondents were presented with three different emergency situations. For each one, they were given several possible actions and had to choose one.

Respondents were asked what they would do if they were at home and heard that there was a tornado warning for their area. A majority (70 percent) said they would go to the basement or the lowest point in the building. Another 24 percent said they would go to the center of the building and take shelter in a closet.
Respondents were asked what they would do if they were in their car and heard that there was a tornado sighted in their area. The largest number of respondents—46 percent—said that they would leave the car and lie flat in the nearest ditch. Another 21 percent said they would take cover under a bridge or overpass, while 20 percent said they would head for the nearest building to take cover.
Respondents were asked what they would do if they were driving and encountered a section of roadway that was covered by water. About 9 in 10 (88 percent) said they would turn around and use an alternate route.

Tornado Drills at Work

Two-thirds (68 percent) of the respondents indicated that they had never had a tornado drill at work, while another 24 percent said they had.

Information Sources Used

Respondents were asked to list the sources of information they used to find out what actions to take in response to emergency situations, and they could list multiple sources. The most frequently mentioned sources were: brochures (18 percent of all mentions); previous experience/common sense (16 percent of all mentions); and textbooks or reference books (14 percent of all mentions).

Needs and Preferences for Emergency Training

About half of the respondents (53 percent) said that they were very interested or somewhat interested in attending an emergency response training program, if it cost 25 dollars. Those who answered something other than “very interested” were asked how interested they would be in attending emergency response training if it were free of charge; 64 percent said they were either very interested or somewhat interested.

Of the people who said they were very or somewhat interested in attending free training, a majority (61 percent) said that their preferred training method was in person with a live instructor.

Regarding the amount of time people were willing to spend attending a training program, 36 percent said they would be willing to spend less than five hours, while 29 percent said they would be willing to spend 5 to 9 hours. Another 10 percent said they would be willing to spend 10 to 14 hours.

View the entire survey [273kb PDF]